Book details of 'How to Be a Successful Computer Consultant'

Title	How to Be a Successful Computer Consultant
Author(s)	Alan R. Simon
ISBN	0070576181
Language	English
Published	January 1994
Publisher	Computing McGraw-Hill

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The Virtual Bookcase Reviews of 'How to Be a Successful Computer Consultant':

Reviewer amazon.com wrote:
Though plenty of working computer consultants would argue that you can't teach their trade in a book, author Alan Simon takes a stab at it. In this book the experienced consultant shares tales from the field and lessons he's learned, saving you the trouble of learning them the hard way.That's not to say that this book represents a consultancy-in-a-box. Any business endeavor is going to involve trial, error, waste, and second thoughts. Simon's book merely increases the odds that successes will outnumber failures and that your new business won't die of honest mistakes in its critical early years. Furthermore, Simon does not (and cannot be expected to) impart any technical knowledge through these pages. If you're even thinking about becoming a consultant, it's assumed you have a high level of technical expertise.The author opens with a discussion of the key questions that must be answered by any business plan: What will the business do, and why? He discusses several dozen consulting specialties--including four focused on the year 2000 problem--and the specific issues involved in running each. He then goes on to cover writing business plans, managing employees and subcontractors, and dealing with finances. (His coverage of "revenue spurts" and "dead times" rings particularly true.) He talks about such perennial challenges as figuring out what customers want and how to get more business without swamping yourself or sacrificing quality, all in a readable style. --David Wall --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Reviewer Rob Slade wrote:
Although there are many books on how to become a consultant, Simon's is the classic within the field of technical consulting. Classic, in computer terms, tends to mean "what you already know, anyway." Although he doesn't provide any startling revelations or secret tricks, Simon does set out a very practical body of advice. Chapters cover the consulting trade in general, choosing a range of services to offer, and the planning and setup of an initial business. The material on marketing recognizes that technical consultants have more to do than "schmooze and sell." Finances and the business plan finish off part one. Part two looks at types of consulting services, with chapters on systems development, training and seminars, computing environments, and writing. The last part looks at the maintenance and growth of the business, itself; management, keeping current, expansion, and the future. A very realistic guide for those considering the self-employment option. copyright Robert M. Slade, 1995
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Book description:

This edition of the best-selling guide for professionals who want a successful career in computer consulting is completely rewritten to address today's job market and advancing technology. The third edition includes new material on object-oriented technology, integrated software development tools, CASE, networking standards, and alternate architectures. This is the single authoritative guide for computer professionals who want to start, develop, and expand their consulting business.